National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0

6 - Sales and service occupations

This broad category comprises middle management occupations in wholesale and retail trade, and customer services, as well as occupations concerned with wholesale and retail sales, and customer, personal and support service occupations related to a wide range of industries, such as accommodation and food services, travel, tourism and cleaning services.

63 - Occupations in sales and services

This major group comprises occupations in sales and services. These occupations come with Training, Education, Experience and Responsibility (TEER) identified as TEER 3. Occupations classified in TEER 3, as those included in this group with a 3 as the second digit of their code, typically require completion of a post-secondary education program of less than two years at community college, institute of technology or CÉGEP; or completion of an apprenticeship training program of less than two years; or more than six months of on-the-job training, training courses or specific work experience with some secondary school education; or the accumulation of several years of experience in a related occupation found in TEER 4, when applicable (TEER 4 includes occupations with a 4 as a second digit in their code).

631 - Occupations in sales

This sub-major group comprises occupations in sales, including insurance agents and brokers; real estate agents and salespersons; and financial sales representatives.

6310 - Insurance, real estate and financial sales occupations

This minor group comprises occupations in sales, including insurance agents and brokers; real estate agents and salespersons; and financial sales representatives. They are employed by insurance companies, brokerages, banks, credit unions, trust companies and similar financial institutions; in the real estate industry; or they may be self-employed.

63100 - Insurance agents and brokers

Insurance agents and brokers sell life, automobile, property, health and other types of insurance to individuals, businesses and public institutions. Insurance agents are employed by individual insurance companies or are independent representatives of specific insurance companies. Insurance brokers are employed by brokerage firms, or may work in partnerships or hold sole proprietorship. Supervisors of insurance agents are included in this unit group.

• Illustrative example(s)

  • insurance agent
  • insurance broker
  • insurance sales representative
  • insurance sales supervisor

  All examples

• Exclusion(s)

  • Insurance manager (See 10020 Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers)
  • Insurance underwriters (See 12202 Insurance underwriters)
  • Supervisors, finance and insurance office workers (See 12011 Supervisors, finance and insurance office workers)

• Main duties

  This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Sell automobile, fire, health, life, property, marine, aircraft and other types of insurance to clients
  • Establish client insurance coverage, calculate premiums and establish method of payment
  • Provide information concerning group and individual insurance packages, the range of risk coverage, benefits paid and other policy features
  • Ensure appropriate forms, medical examinations and other policy requirements are completed
  • Monitor insurance claims and respond to clients' enquiries
  • Identify and solicit potential clientele.

• Employment requirements

  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • On-the-job training and insurance industry courses and training programs are provided and are required for employment.
  • Licensure by the insurance governing body in the province or territory of employment is required.

• Additional information

  • Progression to insurance management positions is possible through experience.
  • Completion of educational programs through the Insurance Institute of Canada entitles agents to professional recognition as a Chartered Insurance Professional (CIP) or a Fellow Chartered Insurance Professional (FCIP).
  • Completion of educational courses through the Financial Advisors Association of Canada (Advocis) allows for various levels of professional designations for insurance and financial advisors.

63101 - Real estate agents and salespersons

Real estate agents and salespersons act as agents for the sale or purchase of houses, apartments, commercial buildings, land and other real estate. They are employed in the real estate industry.

• Illustrative example(s)

  • commercial real estate agent
  • real estate agent
  • real estate agent supervisor
  • real estate sales representative
  • residential real estate agent

  All examples

• Exclusion(s)

  • Assessors, business valuators and appraisers (See 12203 Assessors, business valuators and appraisers)
  • Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers (See 10020 Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers)
  • Mortgage broker (See 11109 Other financial officers)
  • Rentals agent (See 13101 Property administrators)
  • Right-of-way agent (See 12102 Procurement and purchasing agents and officers)

• Main duties

  This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Solicit property sales listings from prospective vendors
  • Assist vendors in selling property by establishing asking price, advertising the property, listing the property with listing services and conducting open houses for prospective buyers
  • Assist prospective buyers in selecting, visiting, inspecting and making offers of purchase on real estate properties
  • Advise clients on market conditions, prices, mortgages, legal requirements and related matters
  • Draw up sales agreements for approval of purchaser and seller
  • May rent or lease properties on behalf of clients.

  Real estate agents and salespersons may specialize in residential, commercial, industrial/institutional or rural real estate sales.

• Employment requirements

  • Completion of secondary school is required.
  • Completion of a real estate training course is required.
  • Provincial or territorial licensure in the province or territory of employment is required.

• Additional information

  • Real estate agents and salespersons normally work on a commission basis.
  • Real estate agents may operate independently by obtaining a broker's licence in accordance with the regulations of the province of employment. A broker's licence is required to become a manager in real estate.

63102 - Financial sales representatives

Financial sales representatives sell basic deposit, investment and loan products and services to individuals and businesses. They work in banks, credit unions, trust companies and similar financial institutions.

• Illustrative example(s)

  • credit officer
  • financial services officer
  • financial services representative
  • loan officer
  • mortgage officer
  • sales associate - personal banking

  All examples

• Inclusion(s)

  • debt counsellor

• Exclusion(s)

  • Banking, insurance and other financial clerks (See 14201 Banking, insurance and other financial clerks)
  • Customer services representatives - financial institutions (See 64400 Customer services representatives - financial institutions)
  • Loan and credit manager - banking or trust company (See 10021 Banking, credit and other investment managers)
  • Other financial officers (See 11109 Other financial officers)

• Main duties

  This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Open new personal and non-personal accounts, and provide access to automated banking machine, telephone banking and online banking services
  • Interview applicants for personal, mortgage, student and business loans
  • Promote the sale of deposit, investment, credit and loan products and services
  • Assist clients by proposing solutions to address financial objectives such as business expansion, debt management, investment and other financial goals
  • Research and evaluate loan applicant's financial status, references, credit and ability to repay the loan
  • Complete credit and loan documentation
  • Submit credit and loan applications to branch or credit manager with recommendations for approval or rejection; or approve or reject applications within authorized limits ensuring that credit standards of the institution are respected
  • Prepare statements on delinquent accounts and forward irreconcilable accounts for collector action
  • Review and update credit and loan files
  • Act as joint custodian for cash and securities.

• Employment requirements

  • Completion of secondary school and extensive general banking experience is usually required.
  • A bachelor's degree or college diploma related to commerce or economics may be required.
  • A mutual funds licence is usually required.
  • Registration with the securities regulatory authority in the province or territory of employment is usually required.
  • Completion of a loan or credit training program, ranging from six to twelve months, is usually required.
  • Various training programs and courses are offered by the Canadian Securities Institute and may be required by employers.
  • Financial services officers who sell regulated financial products and investments are required to be licensed by the appropriate governing body.

• Additional information

  • Progression to higher levels of financial planning and wealth management is possible with experience.
  • Progression to credit and loan management positions is possible with experience.